02-13-2007, 01:39 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Baglihar: India's stand vindicated </b>
Yoga Rangatia | New Delhi
Pioneer.com
<b>Baglihar power project in Jammu and Kashmir is "technically viable and respectful of the Indus Water Treaty," neutral expert Richard Lafitte said in his final report submitted on Monday. The expert attested India's design with minor changes and rejected an alternative design proposed by Pakistan. </b>
"It is a vindication of India's stand. Latiffe studies several dam designs to conclude that the 450 MW power scheme must go-ahead," said Fali Nariman, eminent legal expert who represented India in the dispute with its neighbour over construction of the power plant on river Indus. India's dam design was in conformity with state-of-the-art construction required at the peculiar site, he added.
To satisfy Pakistan's objection to gated spillway for the power project, Latiffe studied 13,000 dams across the world. And found that 90 per cent of spillways high enough to pound 14,000 cubic metre per second (cum/sec) of water are gated. The Indian design had a discharge of 16,500 cum/sec which Pakistan wanted altered to 14,900 cum/sec. The neutral expert determined that the Indian design was okay in terms of gated spillways.
Latiffe said that the level of the gate should be located at an elevation of 800 metre, eight metre lower than what India suggested, for protecting the town of Doda against flooding. This will help the sluice gates remove sediments at the base during monsoons. The World Bank appointed neutral experts has also rejected Pakistan's contention that pondage required to regulate the flow of water should be restricted to 6.22 million cubic metres. India designed for a pondage of 37.5 million cubic metres. The neutral expert has given a go-ahead for a pondage of 32.56 million cubic metres, which is closer to the Indian design.
However, the engineer has asked India to reduce dam crest elevation from 844.5 metres to 843 metres. The Indian side feels this will not substantially change the design or power generation capacity.
Pakistan had objected to India's power project. It was not satisfied after making several visits to the site. The neighbouring country also accused India of violating the 1960 Indus Water Treaty by constructing dam on the Indus. The treaty provided for taking the matter to a neutral expert in case of a dispute.
After several months of parleys and visits to the site, the final report was handed over to Indian and Pakistani diplomats in Bern, Switzerland. The dispute had become a sore point in the relations between the two countries.
In its first phase, the project will give 450-MW power to Jammu and Kashmir and another 450 MW will be added at a later stage. The power generation through Baghlihar could rejuvenate the State's economy, which is in doldrums after years of strife.
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Yoga Rangatia | New Delhi
Pioneer.com
<b>Baglihar power project in Jammu and Kashmir is "technically viable and respectful of the Indus Water Treaty," neutral expert Richard Lafitte said in his final report submitted on Monday. The expert attested India's design with minor changes and rejected an alternative design proposed by Pakistan. </b>
"It is a vindication of India's stand. Latiffe studies several dam designs to conclude that the 450 MW power scheme must go-ahead," said Fali Nariman, eminent legal expert who represented India in the dispute with its neighbour over construction of the power plant on river Indus. India's dam design was in conformity with state-of-the-art construction required at the peculiar site, he added.
To satisfy Pakistan's objection to gated spillway for the power project, Latiffe studied 13,000 dams across the world. And found that 90 per cent of spillways high enough to pound 14,000 cubic metre per second (cum/sec) of water are gated. The Indian design had a discharge of 16,500 cum/sec which Pakistan wanted altered to 14,900 cum/sec. The neutral expert determined that the Indian design was okay in terms of gated spillways.
Latiffe said that the level of the gate should be located at an elevation of 800 metre, eight metre lower than what India suggested, for protecting the town of Doda against flooding. This will help the sluice gates remove sediments at the base during monsoons. The World Bank appointed neutral experts has also rejected Pakistan's contention that pondage required to regulate the flow of water should be restricted to 6.22 million cubic metres. India designed for a pondage of 37.5 million cubic metres. The neutral expert has given a go-ahead for a pondage of 32.56 million cubic metres, which is closer to the Indian design.
However, the engineer has asked India to reduce dam crest elevation from 844.5 metres to 843 metres. The Indian side feels this will not substantially change the design or power generation capacity.
Pakistan had objected to India's power project. It was not satisfied after making several visits to the site. The neighbouring country also accused India of violating the 1960 Indus Water Treaty by constructing dam on the Indus. The treaty provided for taking the matter to a neutral expert in case of a dispute.
After several months of parleys and visits to the site, the final report was handed over to Indian and Pakistani diplomats in Bern, Switzerland. The dispute had become a sore point in the relations between the two countries.
In its first phase, the project will give 450-MW power to Jammu and Kashmir and another 450 MW will be added at a later stage. The power generation through Baghlihar could rejuvenate the State's economy, which is in doldrums after years of strife.
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